"Book Club" Chats Videos this Week (i.e. The Skinny's First Episode, Relapse)!

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There were several of you wanting to participate in book club but not really into reading Big Magic -- totally rad, but I miss hearing/reading everyone's voice! SO this week we're talking about a new video series called The Skinny.

"The Skinny is an R29 original dark comedy series that follows feminist wannabe YouTube star Jessie (Jessie Kahnweiler) as she explores love, life, and friendship in L.A. — while struggling with bulimia." - Refinery29

So make yourself a bowl of popcorn, watch this 12 minute video that's going to make you want to yell FINALLY at the screen for actually providing a realistic capture of female life, and let's chat in the comments below. What made you feel something (angry, sad, happy, blessed, etc.) while you watched this?

If anything in this video is triggering, know there are resources to help. Let's chat if you're unsure what's happening in your body right now.

Cheers to Great Vibes! Xx.

+ Shall we keep watching this series? There are six in total!

P.S. Did you know you get The Great Vibes New Year Guide when you sign up for The Newsletter? Subscribe right now >>>>>

P.S.S. Have you checked out all of the
other places Emily's spreading the Great Vibes?

Valentine's Day Gift Guide for your Galentine, your Main Man, or your Main Girl!

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be-mine.jpg

For Your Galentine ...

1. Something pretty for her to relax in while you two make face masks, paint nails, and FB stalk your crush. 
2. For your weekly popcorn and movie dates without which you'd be completely lost.
3. The aforementioned mask with only 3 ingredients - none of them harmful chemicals - to help her skin be as radiant as her heart.

For Your Main Man ...

1. A great card that would be perfect with a special playlist for the night.
2. A personalized cocktail muddler so you can get slightly tipsy from his beautiful cocktail making skills and have a ball of a time.
3. Delicious chocolate whiskey, because he doesn't do sweets, but he appreciates the sentiment.

For Your Main Girl ...

1. The back issue of New York Magazine for the month you met or became a couple, because she's sentimental and would cherish it with all of her heart.
2. She can't keep a piggy in her room, but you can give an animal or kit to families in need in her name.
3. A beautiful chemise because you know how much she loves lace, sexy nighties, and grown-up cuddling.

+ Do you celebrate Valentine's or Galentine's Day? Or both? What are you going to do this year?

P.S. Did you know you get The Great Vibes New Year Guide when you sign up for The Newsletter? Subscribe right now >>>>>

P.S.S. Have you checked out all of the
other places Emily's spreading the Great Vibes?

Apple Tart (v, gf) & Fearing Your Power

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During December's gathering, the table was decorated with flowers, champagne, and three delicious treats. Whipped coconut cream sat beside a beautiful and warm apple tart next to a dish of the tastiest chocolate chip oatmeal cookies ever. Today, I'm (Emily, here!) dishing out an oh-so-easy dessert recipe you need to make asap. Seriously. I'm thinking this is the perfect recipe to say I love you this V-Day. You know, if you're into that kind of thing.

But before we get started, I wanted to talk about getting back into the groove. I've been going through a pretty rough time, and even though TGVG has maintained it's beauty and love, my heart has not. It's been having a hard time processing, accepting, moving forward, letting go, getting over crushes, finding new ones, being sick of rejection, being excited by possibility. It's been overwhelmed. I'm overwhelmed. Not in the usual work or school kind of way, just by my power.

Does that make sense? Do you ever get overwhelmed by the concept of how you have the power to shape your emotions, to control the outcome, to work with all you have and make it more or less? Because you actually have that power. Every time you sit in your pity party, you have the power to turn it off and make it a dance party. When you are angry, you have the power to shape that anger into productivity and progress. When you are sad, you have the power to turn that sadness around to a form of hope.

This realization is overwhelming for me, because some days I don't want to know of this power. Lately, nothing felt right, and I knew I had the power to change it around, to fix what I could, let go of what I couldn't, find inspiration in something new, but I just didn't want to at all.

So I didn't.

I wallowed and cried and left it all to February. Well February is here, and even though I don't really want to, I'm dealing with my s*** and pulling myself together. Here are small steps I'm taking to feeling better about myself and my life (taken straight, unedited from my journal)::

1. Floss, because I gotta

2. No more TV/Netflix/Videos on school nights (except movie nights with M, or if I have to watch something for film class). Instead I will read or paint or do my hair or yoga or just breathe.

3. Wake up and be up at 8 am everyday - weekends between 9:30 and 10:30

4. Kind bedtime routine with pj's & mindfulness.

5. Cleanse & detox once this month (over a weekend)
TGVG note:: detoxes are not for everyone, but Emily likes them a lot and has experienced tremendous positives from them, so she does them!

These might seem too small or too large for you, but they are perfect for me, and I encourage you to find several small steps to turn your life back to the one you want. Because you have the power to do so right now. If you're waiting for permission from someone to take control of your life, this is your permission -- go for it! If you need help, reach out and ask for some!

Now let's change your life with some TART!!! OHMYGOD Yes.

This recipe brings all of the Great Vibes because it's ...

super easy to assemble and make
sweet
chewy
rich yet light (promise)
decadent
versatile
superfoods to the max

Apple Tart (v, gf)
Ingredients ::

Crust -

+ 2 cups oat flour (whole oats ground in coffee grinder or blender)
+ 1.5 cups almond flour
+ 1/2 tsp sea salt
+ 1/2 cup coconut oil
+ 1/2 cup maple syrup

Filling -

+ 4 apples
+ 2 tbsp lemon juice
+ 2 tbsp maple syrup
+ 3 tbsp sliced almonds

Glaze-

+ 1 tbsp Maple syrup
+ 1 tbsp Lemon juice
+ 1 tbsp Water

Recipe ::

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2. In a bowl combine oat flour, almond flour & salt.

3. Heat coconut oil and maple syrup, stirring to combine.

4. Add coconut oil & maple syrup to flour and stir until combined. Try not to over stir -- if you do, it can make dough more tough and chewy.

5. Spread dough in an oiled tart pan, press down, & fill sides to form a crust. If you don't have a tart pan, just use a pie plate!

6. Pierce crust with a fork several times and bake for 15 minutes.

7. Remove from oven and flatten crust with a fork -- push it back down until it resembles a flat crust again and not a Dutch Pancake!

8. Peel and evenly, thinly slice 4 apples. Once crust is out, place apples in the design of your choice - or just throw 'em in - inside the tart.

9. Combine maple syrup and lemon juice and brush over the apples.

10. Sprinkle almonds on top and bake for 1 hour or so until the apples are soft and slightly browned.

11. Combine all the ingredients for the glaze, plus or minus any ingredients to taste.

12. Brush tart with glaze.

9. Devour & enjoy! Best served warm with whipped cream or ice cream - gramps' & my fave.

Notes::

All ingredients are vegan and most are organic.  If these things are important to you, I encourage you to do the same. Finances, availability, and personal consumer choice can impact purchase decisions. My hope is that you closely follow the recipe, but make allowances where necessary -- my feelings won't be hurt, and your taste buds will still have a party. Promise!

+ What's your favorite pie or tart recipe?

P.S. Did you know you get The Great Vibes New Year Guide when you sign up for The Newsletter? Subscribe right now >>>>>

P.S.S. Have you checked out all of the
other places Emily's spreading the Great Vibes?